Vending machine



June 29, 1965 F. N- JAMES, sR., ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1961 ll'Sheets-Sheet 1 Pl/LSl/VG- SWITCHES MIN SWITCHES m L m9 z //0 I 3 m zaz INVENTORS wag/OWN fiZZZJ466240 (I TTOENE Y J1me 1955 F. N. JAMES, 512., ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed 001;. 31, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 306 Lg M0 #9 I26I V SWITCHING BEL/7V RESETIPELAY 4 a 7 8 464 IN VEN TORS FAflZ/EB IVJJMES, 52.

A TTORNEY 420 I5 ESCROW MOTOE June 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, SR.. ETAL 3,

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 am a? PTYR'ELHYEMPTY'L/Gl/T 3 n 45 1/ 454 45g INVENTORS Benz/2 N JMEs, 5e.

H'TJQ BY 40 1/572; FUEB N A T TOENE Y L L, 322 06+. DC

June 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, SR, ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 Y 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 L6 300 400L/HTKL-LAY 11 m RELAY I 4 [Z 6 ll i 3/0 30/ 51' y, 11),, FAHZ/EE A. JAM,Se.

A TTOENE Y June 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, sR.. ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 SL-ZECTOR SW/TG/ &SELECTOE SW/Z2180 4 7 a $54!? 5 1 4 6 i 3 J6 4/2 3 4 r VEND RELAY VENDRELAY VEND RELAY VEND Mame I 3 6 78 f 5 1 RETl/PNRELAY DEL/VERY RELAY394 2 3 398 3/0 DELIVERY I 392 L 2 INVENTORS Ff jg Fmz/L-e N JAM/55,56.

o4 TTOENE Y June 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, sR., ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet s JELECTOE SWITCHESF SELECT 0B SWITCHES 354. 51 1 6 1 I -354 EMPTY SWITCH K 356 F VENDRELAY VEND RELAY VEND RELAY L VEND RELAY 2 ME W 360 a Z 360 H 2 mmvronsFEAZ/EE N Jh/wss, 52.

H .25 BY '40 05m F /v H 7' TOENE Y June 29, 1965 JAMES, SR" E 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 iSELECTOB 6W! TCHLSELEC TOE 6W! TCHESK -4 VEND RELAY VEND RELAY VEND RELAY 3649 RETUIRNRELAY Z 4 5 1110702 A r rag/v 5) June 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, SR., ETAL3,191,737

- VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 554507016SWITCHES 354M sELscToe SWITCH 354L\ 1 1 J54 SWITCH VEND RELAY VE/VDRELAY VEND RELH (L DH 2 INVENTORS Benz/5e IV JZIMEKZSE. BY Hueusm E ue/vJune 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, sR., ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 SELECTOR SWITCHSELECTOR 6W! TCHES 5 J540 3a4P 3 4 Q VEND RELAY VEND RELAY VEND RELAY L2V 5? 7 J1: INVENTORS fkAZ/Ee /V. Jmes, 52.

14 TTOPNE Y June 29, 1965 F. N. JAMES, SR., ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 sELEcro/eSWITCHES SELE SWITCH 354/2 554$ 6 391730 EM TY SWITCH 356 VE/VD RELAYVEND RELAY VE/VD RELAY VEND RELAY 360 K 3605 360 T 360 U j' JJ:INVENTORS BY flu 05m F Osage/v A TTOENEY J1me 1965 F. N. JAMES, 512.,ETAL 3,191,737

VENDING MACHINE Filed 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 mmvrons FEAZ/EE /V.LII/W55, 52.

H TOEN Y United States Patent 3,191,737 VENDEIG MACHINE Frazier N.James, SR2, 4%3 Franklin Road, Nashville, Tenn, and Augusta F. Osburn,Nashville, Tenn.; said Osborn assignor to said James Filed Get. 31,1961, Ser. No. 148,900 19 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates toa check controlled vending machine adapted to receive money of variousdenominations and including coins and paper money, and to vend anarticle from a number of different priced articles stored within themachine, the article vended corresponding in value to the moneydeposited in and accepted by the machine.

It is an object of this invention to provide circuitry in coin receivingmachines to prevent the operation of certain stepping mechanism in themachine in the event that more than one coin at a time is insertedwithin the machine.

It is also an object of the invention to incorporate thereininterconnected mechanisms to prevent the vending of an article in theevent a coin deposited in a coin chute should fail to pass beyondvending control switches positioned in the path of movement of the coinand actuated by the passage of said coin.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel means foreffecting the totalization of money deposited in the machine andinvolving for a certain denomination of money, the use ofre'peat cyclingof a pulsing switch.

It is still another object of theinvention to provide a novel controlfor an indicator which shall' displa'ythe amountof money depositedwithin the vending'machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a check operated meanswith a resettable' stepping switch operative to totalize the value ofthe checks inserted into the machine and with mechanism to disable thetotalizing action of the stepping switch during resetting thereof.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a system ofintercontrols between a single totalizer and a number of differentvending selector buttons to prevent the dispensing of more than onearticle from the machine for a value on the totalizer and then only ofan article corresponding to the value.

' And another object of the invention is to provide intercontrolsbetween check accept and check'returnmechanism to prevent fraudulentattempts to obtain articles from the machine.

Other objects will become apparent after a rea'dingof the followingspecification when taken in conjection with the accompanying drawings'inwhich:

FIGURES 1A to 1] together constitute a wiring diagram of the vendingmachine, the wiring proceeding from a sheet with one alphabeticaldesignation to a sheet having an adjacent letter of the alphabet;

FIGURE 1AA shows a modification relating to dollar:

relay control circuits;

FIGURE 2' is a fragmentary plan view of a bank of switches together witha stepping magnet arrangement for the bank of switches and'an ofi-normalswitch controlled by the stepping of the bank of switches, and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspectie view'of sole- The indicator andtotalizer The vending machine is adapted to receive coins of;

the denominations of 59f, 16, 25, and 50, and also one dollar bills, toa maximum amountof- $4.95, the

receipt of this money, attimes designated as checks, being indicated ona three part indicator 1%, FIGIB. At the 3,191,737 Patented June 29,1965 w Ice same time the increments of deposits are accumulated on afour part stepping totalizer 162, FIGS. 1C and 1D.

The indicator is divided into units comprising a units order we, a tensorder 1%, and a hundreds order 108. Each of the units has within it aseries of electric lamps and associated masks to project a number onto aprojection screen on the face of the unit when an appropriate lamp isenergized. Since pennies are not received by the vending machine, theunits order has only a 0 and a 5 cent lamp wired into the circuit of themachine. The tens order has all lamps O to 9 wired into the circuitwhile the hundreds order has only the 0 to 4 lamps wired into thecircuit. The indicator, apart from its association in the circuit, formsno part of the invention and is therefore not further described.

The vending machine is provided with conventional chutes and testingdevices for the receipt of nickels, dimes, quarters and half dollars viarespective paths and is further provided with a compartment for receiptand testing the genuineness of dollar bills.

In the nickel chute is a single pole, double throw switch 116, FIG. 1A,while like switches 112, 114 and 116 are located in the dime, quarterand half dollar chutes. The holder of the dollar bill, after the billhas been tested and found to be genuine, is operative to close a singlepole switch 118.

When a nickel has been tested and found acceptable, it passes beyond theswitch lllhmomentarily closing the 2 and 3 contacts thereof, after whichthe switch moves back for contact of common contact lwith contact 1.Momentary closing of-contacts 2 and '3 of the nickel switch connectsA.C.' line 120,'and specificallyline L thereof, via contacts 2 and 3 toterminalfA' of the coil of a nickel relay 122, The opposite terminal Bof the coil is permanently connected with lineL of the A.C. line. As aresultof'energization of the coil, its contact 2 is engaged with contact1 to transmit a pulse through the contacts. Contact 2 is permanentlyconnected with a direct current line 124 and specifically to thenegative leg thereof, and designated as D.C., the direct current; beingfurnished by a full wave rectifier 125 fed from the A.C.linesj Theclosing of'contacts Zand'l of relay 122 transmits aD.C. pulse to one endof a stepping magnet 123, FIG. 13, via a' line 129, the other end of gthe coil being permanently connected to the other orthc.

D.C.+ side of the direct current source. A pulse is also transmittedvia'contacts' 3 and 4 of relay 122 and line room the coil terminal A ofacounting relay 131, PEG. 1C, to lock it in, as will be described, theterminal B-of the coil-being permanently connected to D.C.-|-; Seriesand shunt resistors 132-and 133 may be employed to reduce the currentflow through the'coil of the stepping magnet 12% to a suitable value. tI

The-stepping magnet, through conventional pawl and ratchet drive,rotates-the commonshaft "of a bank of switches indicated in FIGS. 1B, 1Cand ID as 134A, 134B; 136A,-136B; 138A,138B; 140A, 140B; and 142A, 1425.Each switch isof the wafer type with contacts-on the upper faceindicated with the A designation and with contacts'on the lower facedesignated as the B contacts. The stepping of the shaft causes wiperarms 144A, 144B, l46A,-146B, etc., electrically connected with the firstof the contacts of the switchcsto wipeover the contacts on the'wafers,there'being twenty seven'contacts in'all'for' eachfarrn'. Thearms 144Aand 144B are always connected via the switch contacts 1 to one leg L ofan AC." 6.3 volt line 154. On switch wafer face 134A all'oftheevencontacts from 2 to 26 are'connected 'togetherand by a line 156 areconnected to the zero cents-pole ofthe indicator unit 104. The oddcontacts 3 to 27 are con} nected by a line 158 with the fivecents poleon theindica tor unit 104/ Line L; of the 6.3 volt line is connected tothe common terminal of all the lamps in the indicator units 104, 106 and108. As a result, for every pulse transmitted from the 5 switch 110, thelowest order unit will show the digits and 5, in alternation. The underface 1348 of the wafer has 27 contacts, 26 of which are tied togetherinto two groups in the same way as the contacts in the upper face, andthe wiper arms 144A and 144B are so angularly related to one anotherthat as the upper arm 144A leaves the twenty-seventh contact on theupper face of the switch, arm 144B engages contact 2 of the under face1343. Thus as successive nickels are accepted by the machine, the lowestorder unit will alternately show the digits 0 and 5.

As the shaft of the bank of switches is indexed by action of thestepping magnet 128, the wiper arms 146A, 146B, 148A and 1483 are alsoindexed. These arms control the appearance of characters 0 to 9 on thetens order unit 106. Each of the upper and lower decks of the waferswitches 136A, 136B; 138A, 138B has adjacent pairs of contacts coupledtogether so that it takes two pulses to change the indication on thetens indicator. Thus contacts 2 and 3 on deck 136A are tied to the zerolight in tens indicator unit 106 by a line 160, the contacts 4 and 5 aretied to the #1 light on the tens indicator unit by a line 162, etc.Since there are interconnections between the contacts, as shown, andthere are twenty-seven contacts on the switch, the last pair of contactswill represent the tens digit 2. On under deck 13613, the first tiedtogether pair of contacts, contacts 2 and 3, will be the next digit,digit 3. In like fashion the first tied together pair of contacts ondeck 138A is connected with the digit 6 and, on the under face 1383 ofthe wafer switch, the first tied together pair of contacts is connectedto the digit 9. The wiper arms 146A, 146B, 148A and 1488 are soangularly related as to obtain this result. The wiper arms 146A and14613 receive L 6.3 volt power via normally closed switch contacts 7 and6 on a switching relay 164, FIG. 1B, and contact 1 of the steppingswitches, while the arms 148A and 148B receive L power via contacts 7and 8 on the same relay and contacts 1 of the associated steppingswitches. The operation of this relay 164 will be explained hereafter.Since there are fortynine pairs of tied together contacts in decks 136Athrough 138B, it is possible for the tens indicator to go through fourcycles of digits from 0 to 9 and then on to the digit 9.

The next pair of wafer switches with the four faces 140A, 1408, 142A and14213, FIGS. 1C and 1D, constitute the totalizer and also control theindicator, as will be pointed out.

As the shaft carrying all of the wiper arms is indexed by the steppingmagnet 128, the arms 150A to 152B move step by step over the contacts onthese switches. The wiper arms ofswitches 140A and 140B are connectedvia long contact 1 of these switches and via normally closed number 1and 2 contacts of the switching relay 164 to D.C.-. On the other hand,long contacts 1 of switches 142A and 142B which feed the wiper arms 152Aand 15213 are connectable via normally open contacts 3 and 2 of theswitching relay to the D.C.- line. For each nickel accepted by themachine the arms 150A to 1523 will move one step and applyD.C.-potential to successive contacts.

In the normal rest position of all of the wiper arms, they are in thepositions shown. The arm 150A is on a wire 168 indicative of a zerodeposit of money in the machine. As the arm is stepped around, itprogressively marks the wires 170, 172, 174, etc., connected to theswitch contacts, with -a D.C.- potential derived .from the normallyclosed 2 and 1 contacts of the switching relay 164 and wire 169. Ifsufficient'nickels are accepted to bring the arm 150A to wire 208representing twenty nickels or one dollar, a D.C. potential istransmitted to terminal A of the coil of a $1.00 light relay 210, FIG.1C, whose other terminal B is always connected to D.C.+. This causes the$1.00 relay coil to be pulsed,

closing contacts 5 and 6 and contacts 2 and 3. Contacts 5 and 6 of thisrelay and similar contacts of a $2.00 light relay 212, a $3.00 lightrelay 214, and a $4.00 light relay 216, constitute holding contacts forthe particular relay coil energized from a line coming from thetotalizer. Upon closure of contacts 5 and 6, D.C. potential is appliedto the energized coil via all of the numbers 4 and 5 contacts of thesucceeding relays, a line 218 connected to contact 5 of relay 216, thisline connecting with a line 220 leading to contact 2 of the countingrelay 131 which is energized by acceptance of any money within themachine and which relay is locked in as soon as energized until a resetoperation, to be described, takes place. From contact 2 of the countingrelay, when the counting relay is energized, the connection is via itscontact 1 to line 224, thence to normally closed contacts 3 and 4 of areset relay 226, FIG. 18, to D.C..

Thus the $1.00 light relay 210, once energized, will be locked in untillater released, as by operation of the reset relay 226 breaking thecircuit through its contacts 3 and 4, or by operation of the $2.00 relay212. When the relay 210 is unenergized, contact 2 rests against contact1 applying L 6.3 voltage via all the 2 and 1 contacts of relays 216,214, 212,.in that order, and via line 228 to the zero digit light in theindicator unit 108. When the relay 210 is energized, contacts 2 and 3are brought into engagement, whereby L voltage is fed via a line 230 tothe one digit lamp of the unit 108. The common number 2 contact of eachlight relay has 6.3 volt L voltage applied to it at all times via thecontacts 1 and 2 of higher dollar light relays only as long as there isnot a higher dollar light relay energized. When none of the dollar lightrelays are energized, the zero dollar light will burn.

The $1 indication on the unit 108 will remain until resetting of themachine takes place, as will be described, or until the stepping switchcounts $2.00. As the wiper arm 150A leaves the last contact 2-7 onswitch deck 140A, the arm 150B on the under switch deck 140B will engagecontact 2 to mark the line 232, this mark representing $1.30. For eachadditional accepted five cent piece, the wiper arm 1503 will marksuccessive lines with D.C. potential until the sixteenth contact isclosed. At this time D.C. current will be transmitted to the A coilterminal of the $2.00 light relay 212 via line 234 which relay will thenlock in via relay contacts 5 and 6, in the same manner as the relay 210did. However, contacts 4 and 5 of relay 212 are opened, breaking theholding circuit to the coil of relay 210 thereby releasing the $1indication from off the indicator unit 108. The zero indication on thatunit will not reappear since contacts 1 and 2 of relay 212 are opened.Instead, via contacts 2 and 3 of relay 212 and line 236 leading to the$2.00 lamp, that lamp will be illuminated.

When wiper arm 150B reaches the last contact on deck 140B, D.C.potential, via line 238, is applied to the A coil terminal of switchingrelay 164, FIG. =lB, the B terminal of which is connected to D.C.+. Theenergization of this coil closes holding contacts 4 and 5, D.C.potential then being applied to the coil via normally closed contacts 4and 3 of switching and counting reset relay 226, line 224, now closedcontacts 1 and 2 of counting relay 131, FIG. 1C, line 240 and now closedcontacts 4 and 5 of switching relay 164, FIG. IE, to terminal A of itscoil. In order to give a pulse of longer duration to assure that theswitching relay will be energized long enough to close its contactscompletely and hold in through the normally open contacts 4 and 5, acapacitor 239 is connected across its normally closed 1 and 2 contacts.So that power is supplied to the light connected to terminal 27 of deck136B after its switching over of AG. line L from wiper arm 146B to arm148B, the two last terminals 27 on decks B and 13813 are interconnectedby a line 241. For a similar reason to keep the line representing $2.55energized with D.C. potential, the last contacts 27 on the decks B and1423 are interconnected by a line 243. The energization of the coil ofthe switching relay 164, breaks contacts 6 and 7 of the relay to removeL 6.3 volts potential via line 242 from wiper arms 146A and 14613 andtransfers this L potential, via line 244, to wiper arms 148A and 14813.The energization of the coil of switching relay 164 also causes contacts1 and 2 of the relay to be disengaged thereby breaking the D.C.-potential connection to wiper arms 159A and 15013 via line 169 andinstead applies D.C.- potential, via line 245, to wiper arms 152A and1523 on the totalizer.

As the totalizer arms 152A and 1528 step around, due to acceptance ofnickels, wiper arms 152A will contact the number 10 contact on deck142A, representative of $3.00 and energize relay 214. This relay hasconnections and control contacts like relay 212 and will cause the $2indication on indicator unit 108 to be replaced by the $3 indication.When wiper arm 152A reaches contact 27 on deck 142A, the line 246 ismarked with D.C. potential, this line corresponding to the acceptance of$3.85 by the machine. The next step of the totalizer brings arm 152B onthe #2 contact of deck 1423, marking line 248 connected to this contactwith a D.C. p tential representative of $3.90. Two steps farther bringsthe arm 1523 in connection with line 250 which is the $4.00 line andwhich has connection with the $4.00 relay 216 to operate it like theprevious relay 214 and to replace the $3 indication on the indicatorunit 108 by a $4 in dication. The lines connected to the totalizercontacts are sutficient in number to be able to mark them with D.C.potentials corresponding to every nickel variation up to $4.95.

While the passage of a nickel past the coin operated switch 111) willpass a single pulse to the stepping magnet 128, other denominations ofmoney will, through the intermediary of pulse wafer switches 252, 254,256, 258 and 260, a pulse switch operator motor 262 and associatedcircuitry, pulse the stepping magnet 128 an appropriate number of times,with the same subsequent results as with the deposit of nickels.

When a dime is accepted by the machine, see FIG. 1A, it will firstmomentarily open normally closed contacts land 1 and then momentarilyclose contacts 2 and 3 of coin operated switch 112. The closure ofcontacts 2 and 3 transmits an AC. line L current via normally closedcontacts 1 and 2 of the nickel switch 119 and temponarily'closedcontacts 2 and 3 of the dime switch 112 to the A terminal of the coil ofa dime relay 264, theB terminal of which coil is permanently connectedto A.C. line L The relay 264 then locks itself up via its contacts 2 and1, line 266, contact 2 on water switch 258, thence through its wiper armto the long contact of wafer switch 258 and AC. line L. The switch 258has eighteen.

contacts With contact numbers 2 to 18 shorted together and with thecontact of the wiper arm of a size to bridge two contacts on the wafer258 during rotation. As a result, the dime relay 264 will be held lockedin until the wiper arm of switch 258 wipes over contact 1 which isdisconnected from the coil of relay264. Then the relay 264 isdeenerg-ized. During the time that the relay 264 is energized, the motor262, pole B of whichis always connected to line L is energized asfollows: from A.C. line L via normally closed contacts 2 and 1 ofswitch'110,'contacts 2 and 1 of switch 112, closed immediately after thecoin has gone by, contacts 2 and 1 of switch 116, contacts 2 and 1 ofswitch 114 to line 268, thence to contacts Sand 4 of thenow locked inrelay 264-and line 269 to the normally closed contacts 2 and 1 of resetrelay 226, FIG. 1B, and 'back' via line 270 to the motor terminal A.'The purpose of opening contacts 1 and 2 of any of the coin operatedswitches is to'prevent the motor from running contiuuouslyshould a coinbe stuck at the switch. The motor will run to one contact position shortof a complete rotation of 360. To complete the 360 rotation of thepulsing switches, the upper wafer switch 252 has a wiper arm which isconnected to A.C. line L and which bridges contacts 1 and 2 when thewiper arm of switch 258 is bridging contacts numbers 13 and 1. Sincecontacts '18 and 1 on switch 252 are connected via line 272 to the motorterminal A, the motor will continue to rotate one additional stepwhereupon the Wiper arm of switch 252 leaves contact 1 and comes to reston dead contacts 2 and 3. The wiper arm of Switch 2523 comes to restbridging contacts 1 and 2 ready to receive pulses from line 266, whenanother dime is accepted by the machine.

During the 360 rotation of the shaft carrying the wafer switches 262,254, 256, 258 and 260, the wiper 'arm switch 254, which is alwaysconnected to D.C.,

first wipes over contact 3 to send a D.C.- pulse to the terminal A ofthe counting coil via lines 277 and 130. The arm in its rotation wipesover contacts 6 and 15 which are tied together to a line 274 whichconnects with a contact 6 of the now locked-in dime relay 264. The

D.C. pulses then pass through the cooperating #5 contact of the relay,and via a line 276 to line 129 and the terminal A of the stepping magnetto pulse it twice for every dime passing by switch 112.

When a quarter is accepted by the machine, the momentary closing ofcontacts 2 and 3 of the coin operated switch 114 will lock in thequarter relay 278 in the same fashion as described in connection withdime relay 264. Then on the return of the coin switch 114 to normalposition with contacts 1 and 2 in engagement, the motor 262 will beenergized and finally effect one revolution of the shaft of the waterswitches, rotating the wiper arms-as before, the wiper arm or" thepulsing switch 254 traveling over the contacts on the wafer. Since atthis time the dime relay 264 is deenergized and the relay contactsconnected with line 274 are open, no D.C. pulses will be transmittedover line 2'74. However, contacts 4, 8,10, 13, and 17 are connected toline 289 transmitting five D.C. pulses to the stepping magnet 12% vialine 289, now closed contacts 6 and 5 of quarter relay 278, normallyclosed contacts 5 and 6 of a half dollar relay 282 to lines 276 and 129,and the stepping magnet 128 to pulse it five' times for every quarterpassing by switch 114.

When a half dollar is accepted by the machine, contacts 2 and 3 of thehalf dollar switch 116 will be momen-. tarily closed, applying Lpotential to the A terminal of the coil of half dollar relay 282,causing locking up otthe relay as in the case of previous relays. On thepassage of the half dollar past the switch 116, contacts 1 and 2 willclose, starting the motor 262. All of the number 1 and 2 contacts of thecoin operated switches are in series to prevent the motor 262 fromstarting unless all the other coin operated switches have been clearedof coins. At this timethe other coin relays are deenergized and nopulses can be passed through their contacts. However, during rotation ofthe motor, the wiper arm of switch 256 will Wipe over tied togethercontacts 4 to 13 of the wafer switch256 transmitting ten pulses to thestepping magnet 126 via line 2%, now closed contacts 7 and 6 of relay262, and lines 2'76 and 129. The wiper arm comes to rest on the #2contact of the wafer to apply D.C.- potential to a contact on the resetrelay-226, as willbe explained ater. a 1

When a dollar bill is accepted; by thecurrency'accepter switch 118, the$1.00 relay 286 is momentarily energized, via A.C line L switch 11s, andcoil terminal'A, the B terminal of the coil always being connected toAC. line L The energization of the coil starts the motor. 262, since AC.line L is connected to the motor terminal A via the normally closed 1and 2 contacts of the switches its to 116, line 26%, contact a of relayass, now closed contact 4 of the relay, line 269 to normally closedcontacts 2 and 1 of reset relay 226, FIG. 1B, and line 270. The motor262 in its rotation will rotate the wiper arm of water switch 253 toprogressively bridge contacts 2 to 18 thereby holding the relay 226energized by reason, of AC.

line L current being connected to relay 286 via A.C. line L the wiperarm of wafer switch 258, contacts 2 to 18 of the switch, line 266, line2% to contact 1 of relay 286, now closed contact 2 of the relay andterminal A of the relay coil, the B terminal of the coil beingpermanently connected to AC. line L As previously explained, the motorwill cause a complete 360 rotation of the Wafer switch shaft to occur,whereupon the wiper arm of switch 258 will engage contact 1 of the waferswitch before it leaves contact 18. AC. line L will now be connectedwith the last of the money relays 292, via line. L wiper arm of waferswitch 258, line 294, contact 5 of relay 286, now closed contact 6 ofthat relay, and line 296 to terminal A of the coil of the relay 292, theB terminal thereof being permanently connected to AC. line L If desired,line 296 may have inserted therein a capacitor bypassed resistor 297.The described circuit will energize the coil of relay 292 closing itsholding contacts 1 and 2. Holding current for the coil will now befurnished via A.C. line L wafer switch 260 whose wiper arm bridgescontacts and whose contacts 1 to 17 are all tied together, line 238, nowclosed contacts 1 and 2 of relay 292 and coil terminal A of relay 292.In a modification shown in FIG. 1AA, the holding circuit for the coil ofrelay 286 is established from terminal A of the coil via contacts 2a and3 of relay 292, line 268 and contacts 1 and 2 of the coin switches toline L For each revolution of the motor, pulses will be transmitted tothe stepping magnet 128. The first ten pulses will be from D.C., viawafer switch 256, lines 284, 288, and 289, contacts 8 and 7 of the thenclosed relay 286 to line 129 and to the coil of the magnet 128; and thesecond ten pulses will be transmitted from D.C. via switch 256, lines284 and 288 to contact 6 of relay 292, thence via its now closed contact5 to line 129 and to the stepping magnet coil 128. Contacts 1 and 2 onthe coin operated switches, and contacts 3 and 4 of all of the coinrelays, when the relays are energized, in conjunction with contacts 1and 2 of the reset relay, establish a series path for the current to themotor 262, which motor will cease running on any series connection beingopened. The motor will run to turn the shaft and through an angle tohave the wiper arm of wafer switch 252 bridge over onto the eighteenthsegment at which time the coin relays drop out and the motor would ceaserunning except for the connections between contacts 18 and 1 of thewafer switch 252 and the motor pole A. The coin operated switch contacts1 and 2 are made to close and start and maintain operation of the motoronly after a coin has passed therebeyond to prevent a coin stuck in thechutes and engaging the coin switches maintaining the coin relay coilsand the motor energized continuously.

Each contact on the totalizer has a line connected thereto the ends 301of which are permanently connected in appropriate ascending order ofvalue to jacks in a pricing panel 300. The line selected depends uponthe money accepted by the machine, no matter in what order the coins ordollar bills were inserted therein.

Resetting of indicator and totalizer The jacks on the pricing panelinterchangeably receive plugs 302 which connect with selector or vendswitches on the vending machine. The vending machine includes mechanismto dispense a variety of articles or, in the alternative, refund themoney, either in the event the machine is out of a selected article orthe prospective purchaser desires a refund of his money prior toinitiating selection of the article. In either of the latter events orupon the delivery of an article to a customer, the reset relay 22-6,FIG. 1B, is momentarily energized and thereby the holding circuit to thecounting relay is opened allowing the counting relay to assume itsunenergized condition. When this reset relay is energized, its 8 and 9contacts close, establishing a holding circuit for the relay via theD.C. line, line 3194, to normally closed contacts 2 and 1 of anofi-normal switch 3416, line 308 to holding contact 8 of now closedreset relay 226, to contact 9 thereof and terminal A of the coil,terminal B of the coil being permanently connected with the D.C.+ line.This locks in the reset relay until the totalizer wipers or arms reachtheir home positions shown in the drawings, as will be explained.

After the reset relay has been energized, a circuit is completed forstepping all the stepping switches forward toward their initialpositions, this circuit including all of the selector switches in theirunoperated positions. The circuit is from D.C.- to wafer switch 256, viaits contact 2 to line 311} to the normally closed contacts 4 and 3, inseries, of all of the selector switches, thence back via line 312 tocontact 6 of the reset relay 226, now closed contact 7 thereof, to line314, to contact 2 of the stepping switch circuit breaker 316, normallyclosed on contact 1 thereof. Contact 1 of circuit breaker 31.6 isconnected to line 129 and then via the series resistor 132 to terminalAct the stepping magnet 128 causing the magnet to operate to step theindicator and totalizer stepping switches one step. As the coil isoperated, it moves an arm 318 with it which engages circuit breaker 316in series with the coil to effect disengagement of the contactswhereupon the coil becomes deenergized to allow the contacts of thebreaker to again close in order to repeat the stepping operation of theindicator and totalizer switches.

This stepping of the switches continues until the wipers 148B and 152Breach the twenty-seventh position. At this time a cam pin 329 on theshaft of the stepping switches causes an operation of the off-normalswitch 306 to cause contacts 1 and 2 to disengage and contacts 2 and 3to engage. When contacts 1 and 2 of the off-normal switch are broken,the holding circuit to the reset relay is broken, causing release of therelay. D.C. current will be transferred to wire 322 connected withcontact 3 of the elf-normal switch and to contact 4 of counting relay131 which, as has been described, had been deenergized when the resetrelay was first energized. From contact 4 of relay 131, D.C. currentflows to contact 3 thereof, a line 324 to line 314, then to the closedcon: tacts of circuit breaker 316 to cause the stepping switch tooperate one more step to bring the stepping switches to home or startposition illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 1A to 1D. The pin 320then allows contacts 2 and 3 to open, whereby the stepping magnet ceasesoperation.

Thus far, the operation of the light indicator and the stepping switcheshave been described with the placing of a D.C. potential on a line, thusmarking the line.

Vending articles The mechanism for vending a selected article undercontrol of a marked line will now be described.

In the machine selected for the purposes of illustration, there arethree racks which may be loaded with goods. For the purposes ofillustration, it is assumed that the first rack has a number of pairs ofcolumns with goods of like kind in each pair and additional columns eachof which carries goods different from those in other columns, with asingle motor for that rack and associated mechanism to remove the goodsfrom any of the columns. The second rack has a number of columns eachretaining a different type of goods and which perhaps may require theservices of a different type of motor for removal of the goods. Thethird rack may have a single pair of columns for containing like goodsand additional columns each for different types of goods, with a motorlike that on the first rack for removal of the goods.

Assuming that an item in rack #1 columns 1 and 2 is priced at 50, that50 has been properly received by the machine and that a wire 352, FIG.1E, leading to selector switch indicated as 354A and B (for the twocolumns) is plugged into the pricing panel 300, FIG. 1]), in the 50jack, making connection with the 50 lead from the totalizer, and thatselector switch 354A and B has been operated, D.C. potential will bepicked up at the jack and travel along wire 352, contacts 1 and 2 ofselector switch 354A and B, to contact 2 of an empty switch 356B incolumn 2 to contact 3 thereof (when goods are in column 2), to contact 2of a like empty switch 356A in column 1, thence through its contact 3(when goods are in column 1) to coil terminal A of a vend relay 3643A,the opposite or B terminal of the coil being permanently connected toD.C.+. in the event the first column is empty, the midcontact of emptyswitch 356A will be in engagement with contact 1 thereof and the coil ofvend relay 36ilB for the second column will be energized rather than thecoil of vend relay 359A for the first column. When bath columns undercontrol of selector switch 354A and B are empty, contact 2 of emptyswitch 356B will be closed against contact 1 to eilect return of thedeposited money, as will be explained later. Thus goods are dispensedfirst from the column under control of vend relay 36i9A and then undercontrol of vend relay 365B.

Gn energization of vend relay 369A or 3693, relay self-locking contacts2 and 3 come into engagement and D.C.- potential to terminal A of thecoil of the selected vend relay will be supplied via contact 2 of alimit switch 366A, FIG. 13, associated with the third rack, throughnormally closed contact 1 of the switch, thence via a Wire 368 tocontact 2, see FIG. 16, of a limit switch 364A associated with thesecond rack, then through normally closed contact 1 there and Wire 2579to contact 2, see FIG. 1E, of a limit switch 352A associated with thefirst rack, through the normally closed contact 1 thereof and thence viaa wire 372 to contact 2 of the energized vend relay fifidA. The D.C.potential will now,

via contacts 2 and 3 or" the relay and wire 374, be ap-' plied tterminal A of the coil of the relay, the relay remaining energized untilthe circuit is broken through one of the referred to series connectedlimit switches. Although the first selector switch has been selected forexemplification, the other vend relays for any of the columns on therack will operate in similar fashion when the associated selector switchis operated. The energization of anyvend relay will break the circuit toany subsequent relay, since all of the 1 and 2 contacts of these relaysare wired in series, and contact 2 carries the current viacontact 1 of arelay to succeeding relays so that only one or them can be locked in.

It is not until a selector switch which has been operated is releasedand all of the other selector switches are in normal position that A.C.power can be furnished to a delivery motor to dispense the selectedarticle'from its column. The A.C. power comes from A.C. line L tocontact 7 of the first selector switch 354A and B, thence to normallyclosed contact 6 of the switch to contacts 7 and 6 of'selector switch354C and D, controlling the dispensing of an article from its/twocolumns, thence to contact 7 of selector switch 354E, FIG. 1F,controlL'ng its single column, to contact 6 thereof and so on throughthe whole series of selector switches on all of the racks, so thatholding any selector switch operated will disable A.C. current flow tothe article removing mechanism and prevent removal of an article fromany column; The last selector switch 354T and U, FIG. 1], on rack 3, itwill be noted, controls the dispensing of an arti-i cle from either oneof a pair of. columns, just as does selectorswitch 354A and B andselector switch 354C and D associated with the first rack. From contact6: of: this last selector switch, A.C. line L potential will flow alonga line 376, to line 378, FIGS. 1E and IF, thence to a contact 6 of theselected vend relay, as vend relay 3623A, thence via its contact 7,lines 384 and. 332 to the A terminal of the armature and normal fieldwinding of vend motor,3$4, the B terminal of the armature and fieldwinding being permanenently connected with A.C. line L .The motor may beof the double shaded pole reversible'type illustrated, for example,inthe patentto Cummings 1,895,880. The terminals C, CW, and CCW on themotor indicate the connections of the shading coils to the terminals, Cindicating common, CW indicating clockwise rotation of the motor, andCCW indicating counterclockwise rotation of the motor. One of the setsof shading coils is connected to contacts 4 and 5 of relay 369A whichwhen energized causes the motor to rotate in the direction of theshorted coils.

Thus, with money deposited in the machine, depress ing a selector switchand releasing it will set the vend motor into rotation, which rotationcontinues until a part movable by the rotation of the motor will openlimit switch 362A, contacts 1 and 2. Thereupon the vend relay coil willbe deenergized, since the line 372 feediug holding contact 2 of the coilis opened at the limit switch, the relay contacts will be restored tothe normal position illustrated and the A.C. supply to the motor will beinterrupted.

Simultaneously with the energization of the motor, a solenoid, as 385A,is energized, one pole or" this solenoid receiving power directly fromA.C. line L while the other pole is connected via line 388, contacts 3and 9 of the energized vend relay 369A, lines 378 and 376, the selectorswitches 354, contacts 6 and 7, to A.C. line L This solenoid, see FIG.3, operates to bring pairs of arms 45% pivotally mounted on the lowerends of brackets depending from a pusher 4 52 to an operative positionwherein actuating arms 45 on a shaft driven by the vend motor may engagethe arms to thrust the pusher against a lowermost article stacked in acolumn, and eject it onto a conveyor belt (not shown). Also, on reversalof the vend motor, a return arm 456 on the shaft engages a projection458 extending downwardly from the pusherto return the pusher to aposition ready to dispense another article. The solenoid is deenergizaedt allow return of the arms controlled thereby when the vend relay coilis dcenergize'd. The particular form of mechanical devices for drivingthe pusher is not claimed herein and, therefore, no further descriptionthereof is given. a i p Whenthe vend motor operates the pusher to removean article from a column, an arm 4% driven by the motor comes intocontact with the limit switch 362A opening its contacts 2 and 1 andclosing contacts '2 and 3. Thereupon D.C.. power is fed via the D.C.line, contacts 2 and 1 vof limit switch 366A, FIG. 1], line 368,contacts 2 and 1 of limit switch 354A, FIG. 16, lines 379 and 371 tocontacts 2 and 3 oflimit switch 362A and then via line 373 to the A coilterminal of a'vend motor return relay 388A. Since the terminal B of thiscoil is always connected to D.C.+, the coil is now e'ner gized. Acircuit is established for the relay388A via line 379, contact 2 oflimitswitch 362A, contact- 3- of the switch, has 373 and terminal A of thecoil of relay 3%A. When the relay is energized contacts land 2 close,establishing a holding circuit from line 2574?, con:- tacts 2 and l oflimit switch 362B, line 33?, contactl of relay 388A to contact 2 thereofandterminal A of the relay coil. Closure of contacts 3 and 4 of therelay cone nects the shading coil winding f motor 384 to cause it toreverse its direction of rotation.

7 Thus the motor will reverse allowing contacts 1 and 2 of switch 362Ato again close, the motor continuing: to run until'limit switch 3623 isopened. The'reupon the flow of current to holding contact 1 of the vendmotor return relay is interruptedthus breakingthe holding cir cuit forthis relay and deenergizing the same. Thereby current to the armature ofmotor 384,via-contacts 5 and 6 of the relay, and to the clockwiseproducing winding on the motor, via contacts 3 and 4 of this relay; isinterrupted. The motor stops with limit switch 362B opened.Recapitulating, whenthe motor restarts by enerlgization of vend relay360A, and the closing .of the motor circuit via the pole shading fieldwinding/con: tacts4 and 5 and the armature circuit contacts 6 and- 7 ofrelay 3etlA, the contacts 1 and 2- of limit switc h 36 2 l3 close, butsince vend motor return relay 338A is not energized, its holdingcontacts are open. When the motor opens limit switch. contacts. 1 and 2of switch 362A, the holding circuit of the vend relay opens, opening thecounterclockwise pole shading field winding of the motor 384 and thearmature circuit. However, when limit switch contacts 1 and 2 of limitswitch 362A are opened, contacts 2 and 3 thereof are closed, energizingthe vend motor return relay 388A and closing its holding contacts, thearmature circuit for the motor and the reverse CW pole shading fieldwinding of the motor. Therefore the motor will reverse and continue tooperate until contacts land 2 of limit switch 362B open, therebydeenergizing relay 388A and stopping the motor.

When the pusher operated, it had engaged the bottommost article of astack of articles and deposited the same onto a conveyor. The conveyoris provided with a delivery motor 402, FIG. IE, to drive the conveyorfor a short period of time in order to deliver the selected ware to thepurchaser. This delivery motor is energized in the following manner:When the coil of vend motor return relay 388A is energized, its contact7, permanently connected to D.C., comes into engagement with contact 8of the relay. Current then flows from contact 7, through contact 8 andvia line 390 to a line 392 (connected with the like contact on the likerelay 3880, FIG. 11, on the third rack and to a contact 6 of vend motorreturn relay 388B, FIG. 16, on the second rack); also D.C. flows to coilterminal A of delivery relay 394, through the coil to terminal B,terminal B being permanently connected to the D.C.'|- line. Contact 6 ofrelay 3883 on the second rack is, when that relay is energized, incontact with contact 5, connected to D.C.. When the delivery relay coilis energized, it becomes self locking by reason of closure of itscontacts 3 and 4, current then flowing from the D.C.- line to contact 3and contact 4, thence to contacts 1 and 2 of an adjustable thermostaticswitch 398 to terminal A of the delivery relay coil, through the coil toterminal B and the D.C. line. The heater 400 of the thermostatic switchbridges contact 4 and the D.C.;+ line thus becoming heated and effectingan opening of the contacts of the thermostatic switch after apredetermined time, in accordance with the adjustment of thethermostatic switch. So long as the thermostatic switch is closed aconveyor drive or delivery motor 402, connected to drive the conveyor onwhich the dispensed articles are deposited by action of the pusher, isenergized via A.C. line L contacts 1 and 2 of the relay, the motor 402,and a connection 403 to the A.C. line L Once the delivery relay isenergized, the motor 402 will run under control of the thermostaticswitch until after the article is delivered to a receiving bin in thedispensing machine accessible to the purchaser. Subsequently, thenormally closed thermostatic switch will open to deenergize relay 394,opening its self holding contacts and opening the relay contacts to themotor. Since the vend motor return relay, before opening of thethermostatic contacts, had been deenergized by reason of opening oflimit switch 362B, the coil of relay 394 remains deenergized until asubsequent dispensing of goods from a column takes place. The controlfor the delivery motor 495 for the third rack is the same as for thefirst rack. The second rack has the tandem delivery motors 404, FIG. 16the vend relay and vend motor return relay have different arrangementsof contacts, these differing in that no field winding controls arenecessary and contacts for the field windings have therefore beeneliminated; otherwise the control is the same.

An escrow motor 420, FIG. 1B, is employed to operate mechanism to eitheraccept or refund money to' the purchaser. The refund may beautomatically effected in the event the column or columns of selectedmerchandise is empty. Or the refund may be initiated by the purchaser.

Money accept After a deposit of a proper amount of money has been madein the machine, resulting in marking a line with D.C.- potential, and aselector switch has been depressed, as switch 354A and B. D.C. potentialwill flow via the marked line, contacts 1 and 2 of the selector switch,empty switch contacts 2 and 3 (it being assumed that there are goods inat least one of columns 1 and 2 of the machine), line 410, thence tocontact 8 and now closed contact 9 of the selector switch, and line 412,and then to line 414 connected with the A coil terminal of an acceptedrelay 415, the B terminal of the coil being connected permanently toD.C.+. When this coil is energized contacts 3 and 4 thereof areclosed.This relay will be energized only as long as a selector switch is helddepressed. The closure of contacts 3 and 4 of relay 415 brings A.C. lineL, to which contact 3 is always connected, to contact 4 and thence vialine 416 to the A coil terminal of acceptance relay 418, thence to the Bterminal of the coil and A.C. line L to which the B terminal of the coilis always connected. This energizes V the coil of the acceptance relay418; contact 6 of relay 4118, always connected to A.C. line L andcontact 7 then brings A.C. line L current to the A armature pole ofescrow motor 420, the B pole of which is permanently connected to A.C.line L At the same time contacts 8 and 9 are closed completing the fieldwinding circuit to the motor to cause it to rotate in the clockwisedirection. The coil of acceptance relay 418 will be held energized untilthe escrow motor is driven to its limit of rotation in accepting money,by reason of a shunt circuit established to its coil terminal A, thiscircuit being from A.C. line L contact 2 of an accept limit switch 422,normally closed contact 1 of that switch, line 424 to contact 3 ofacceptance relay 418, now closed contact 4 of the relay to terminal A ofits coil. When the accept limit switch is actuated by reason of a partdriven by the escrow motor shaft moving the switch, the contacts 1 and 2of the limit switch are broken and the relay 418 becomes deenergized.Current to the motor armature however is maintained by contact 2 of theaccept limit switch engaging contact 3 which is connected to the motorarmature, and current is maintained to the same field winding by currentpassing from the common contact of the field winding to contact 4 ofaccept limit switch 422, now closed contact 5 thereof, line 426, tocontact 8 of a returning relay 428, a normally closed contact 7 thereofand the CW terminal of the field winding. Thus the motor will continueto rotate in the same direction until the accept limit switch has beenreleased completely. This arrangement is provided so that the acceptlimit switch does not try to control the direction of the motor when itis actuated during a money return cycle.

Money refund due to empty column Should a column be empty, and theselector switch for that column be depressed, D.C.- potential from amarked line at the pricing panel will be transmitted via contacts 1 and2 of the associated selector switch, to contact 2 of the associatedempty switch 356, thence via its now closed contact 1 (the column beingassumed to be empty), to a line 434, then to a line 436 common to thelines 434 on each rack and a branch line 438 to the A coil terminal of atemporarily energizable return relay 440, FIG. 1B (deenergized as soonas the selector switch is released), whose B terminal is permanentlyconnected to D.C.j+. The temporary energization of relay 440 will closeits contacts, whereby A.C. line L power will flow through contact 3 ofreturn relay 440, now closed contact 4 to line 442, thence to terminal Aof returning relay 428 through its coil to terminal B and A.C. line Lterminal B always being connected to A.C. line L When the returningrelay coil is energized, relay 4% will be locked up by reason of currentflow from A.C. line L to contact 6 of now deenergized acceptance relay418, normally closed contact thereof, line 444, contact 4 of a returnlimit switch 446, normally closed contact 3 thereof, line 448, toholding contact 3 of returning relay 423, now closed holding contact 4thereof and to terminal A of the relay coil.

By reason of the control of the circuit for the reversal of the motorpassing through contacts 5 and 6 of the acceptance relay 418, the motorcannot be reversed until after the acceptance relay has been restored tonormal condition. This eliminates the possibility of energizing thereturn relay after a vend cycle has started.

When returning relay 428 is energized, the escrow motor armature circuitis completed via a connection between contact 3 of the relay, contact 5thereof, now closed contact 6 thereof, and pole A of the armature. Thefield winding to reverse thernotor or rotate it counterclockwise, iscompleted via contacts 1 and 2 of returning relay 428. The escrow motorwill then rotate in a direction to effect return of the money andoperate until the return limit switch is engaged by a part movable withthe shaft of the escrow motor to shift the contacts of the return limitswitch to break the hold circuit to returning relay 428.

After the contacts have been shifted on the return limit switch, themotor will still continue to run in the counterclockwise direction,notwithstanding the deenergization of relay 428, because of thefollowing connections: The motor armature current will flow from A.C.line L at armature pole B, through the armature to pole A thence tocontact 5 of return limit switch 446, now closed contact 4 thereof,tocontact 5 of acceptance relay 418 and normally closed contact '6thereof to A.C. line L The counterclockwise field Winding current of themotor will flow from terminal CCW of the field winding to contact 1 ofacceptance relay 418, normally closed contact 2 thereof, to contact 2 ofreturn limit switch 446, now closed contact 1 thereof, and line 448 toterminal C of the field winding. Thus the connections are such that thereturn limit switch does not try to control the direction of the motorwhen it is actuated during a money accept cycle. The return limit switchis released to the normal position shown after full travel of 'the motorin the counterclockwise direction, thus stopping the motor.

Empty light When a column is empty and a selector switch 354 isdepressed, D.C.- currentwill flow from contact 1 of the empty switch 356to lines 434 and 436 to contact 6 of an empty relay 4%, FIG. 1C, thenceto normally closed contact 5 thereof to terminal A of the coil of therelay, the opposite or B terminal of which is permanently connected toD.C.+. When the empty relay is energized, lighting current for an emptyindicating light 452 fiows from A.C. line L to contact 3 of empty relay450 to contact 4 to terminal A of the light 452' to terminal B thereofand to A.C. line L A holding circuit for the relay 45% is established asfollows: from DC.- to contact 1 of the rela now closed contact 2thereof, contact 1 of a thermostatic switch 454, normally closed contact2 of the switch, to terminal A of the empty relay, the opposite terminal3 of;the relay, as stated before, being permanently connected to D.C.+.Also a shunt circuit for the heater 45o will be established betweencontact 2 of switch 454 and D.C.+. After a time delay determined by thesetting of the thermostatic switch, the heater will force the contactsopen, deenergizing the coil of the relay and the lamp will becomeextinguished. Thus the lamp will burn for a predetermined time after aselector switch for an empty column has been operated.

i4 Operator operated refund An escrow switch 4&9, HG. 1B, is providedwhich upon energization by a prospective purchaser effects return ofthedeposited money. On manual closure of this switch, contacts 1 and 2thereof are closed. This applies D.C. potential to the A terminal ofreturn relay 446, the D.C. potential being derived from contact 2 onwafer 256, see PEG. 1A, line 310 and contacts 4 and3 of all the seriesconnected selector switches 354 when they are unoperated, the circuitthen being established via line 312 and branch line 313 to contact 3 ofswitch 46%, thence through now closed contact 4 thereof, and line 451 tocontact 5 on the energized counting relay 131, thence through now closedcontact 6 of the counting relay and line 464 to the A terminal of thereset relay 226 of which the B terminal is permanently connected toD.C.+. Operation of the reset relay deenergizes the holding circuit forthe counting relay through reset relay contacts 3 and 4. The resetrelay, it will be remembered, is operative to restore the steppingswitches and switching relay to normal position.

The reset relay is also energized initially by depression of a selectorswitch, after the wafer switches reach home position. When a selectorswitch is depressed, the DC.- power from wafer 256, contact 2, flows tothe common contact 4 of a selector switch 354, through the normally opencontact 5 thereof and via line 413 to the common contacts 1 on theaccept relay 415 and on the return relay 440. The contacts 5 of all ofthe selector switches 354 are connected to the line 413.

If either the accept relay 415 or the return relay 449 had beenenergized at the time the selector switch is actuated, the D.C. powerfrom the common contact 1 of these relays flows through the normallyopen contact 2 of the relay'that is energized then via lines 462 and461, to the'contact 5 of the counting relay 131. If the counting relaybe, energized, this D.C.- current flows through normally open'contact 6thereof via line 464 to the A terminal of the reset relay coil 226. i I

When the coil of the reset relay 226 is energized, D.C. power flowsthrough common contact 4 thereof, through now closed contact 5, tocontact 1 of the escrow switch 460, thence through the now operatorclosed contact 2 of the switch and via line 456 to the A terminal of thereturn relay 440 whose B terminal is permanently connected to D.C.+. Theescrow motor 428 will now operate, as before, to refund the money to thewould-be purchaser. The reset relay, of course, also restores thestepping magnet and switching relay to home positions, as before.Obviously,if the counting relay had not been energized, neither thereset relay nor the return relay could have been energized. Thisdiscourages unwarranted tampering with the machine controls.

. What is claimed is:

it. A coin controlled apparatus comprising chutes for receiving coins ofdifierent multiple denominations, switches in said chutes, a steppingswitch and stepping magnet to operate the stepping switch a pulsingswitch having plural contacts connected to the stepping magnet andanarrn'to successively close with the. contacts, a motor to drive thearm, direct connections between the switch in the chuteadapted toreceive a coin of the lower denomination and the stepping magnet tomomen-' tarily energize the same to move the stepping switch one step,connections between a switch in a chute of higher denomination with thearm of the pulsing switch and with the motor to 'set' the motor intooperation to cause the V pulsing switch to transmit a number of pulsesto the, stepping magnet for each rotation of the arm, and con:

nections to the motor to limit the movement of the arm to one cycle foreach coin of higher denomination deposited in the machine, theconnections to the motor including normally closed contacts on each ofthe coinoperated switches and opened when a coin is engaging the switch,with the said contacts on each coin operated switch in series with thesaid contacts on all of the switches and in series with the motor.

2. A check controlled apparatus comprising chutes for receiving checksin the form of coins of different multiple denominations, switches insaid chutes, a stepping switch and stepping magnet to operate thestepping switch, a pulsing switch having plural contacts connected tothe stepping magnet and an arm to successively close with the contacts,a motor to drive the arm, direct connections between the switch in thechute adapted to receive a coin of the lower denomination and thestepping magnet to momentarily energize'the same to move the steppingswitch one step, connections between a switch in a chute of higherdenomination with the arm of the pulsing switch and with the motor toset the motor into operation to cause the pulsing switch to transmit anumber of pulses to the stepping magnet for each rotation of the arm,connections to the motor to limit the movement of the arm to one cyclefor each coin of higher denomination deposited in the machine, anotherswitch closed by acceptance of a check other than a coin, a first relayclosed on closure of said another switch, contacts closed by said firstrelay to close a holding circuit for itself, control the energization ofa second relay, start the motor and transmit pulses from the multiplecontact switch to the stepping magnet, means under control of the arm ofthe motor for completing the circuit for energizing the second relayupon a completion of a first revolution of the arm, and the contacts ofsaid second relay closing holding contacts for itself, energizing themotor for a second revolution of the arm and transmitting additionalpulses to the stepping magnet.

3. In a check controlled vending machine, means for receiving checks, astepping magnet controlled by the acceptance of said checks, steppingswitches, each having contacts connected to output devices and eachhaving a contact sweeping arm operated by said stepping magnet, aswitching relay having an energizing coil and contacts to alternatelyapply potential to said arms and normally applying poteintial to the armof one of said switches, and means to energize the coil of the switchingrelay to shift the potential to the other arm, said means including aconnection between the last contact on the first stepping switch and thecoil of the relay.

4. In a check controlled apparatus, check receiving mechanism, a plugboard, a stepping magnet controlled by pulses transmitted from the checkreceiving mechanism a stepping switch controlled by said steppingmagnet, and an indicator having two signals controlled by said steppingswitch, said stepping switch comprising a number of units, eachcomprising a substantially semicircular :array of contacts with acontact arm sweeping thereover andwith the contact arms of each unitsubstantially diametrical of one another, means connecting the two armstogether to a source of potential, a pair of leads from the steppingswitch to the indicator, one lead being connected to alternate contactson each unit and the other lead being connected to the other contacts,the leads at the indicator being connected respectively to the twoindividual signals, totalizer stepping switches operated by saidstepping magnet, lines connected between the totalizer switches and saidplug board, means connected with the plug board to vend an article undercontrol of a said line connected to the board when the line isenergized, and means to energize the said line.

5. A check controlled apparatus comprising a switch mechanism energizedby the acceptance of a check, a first circuit including a pulsing switchset into operation by the operation of the check operated switchmechanism, a stepping magnet energized by pulses from said pulsingswitch, stepping switches advanced by said stepping magnet, a resetrelay to con-trol the movement of the stepping switches to a homeposition, means to initially energize the reset relay, an oif-normalswitch comprising a single pole, double throw switch, with the commoncontact of the double throw switch connected to one pole of a source ofa potential, in first contact normally closed with the common contactconnected with contacts on said reset relay to hold the relay inenergized condition, said stepping switches having a common drivingshaft, means on the shaft cooperating with the double throw switch tobring the common contact and a second contact of the double throw switchinto engagement for one step only of the stepping switches, a circuitbreaker in a second circuit, said circuit breaker being in series withsaid stepping magnet, an arm operated by said stepping magnet to openthe circuit breaker when the magnet is energized, a counting relayenergized upon operation of the pulsing switch and deenergized uponinitial energiz-ation of the reset relay, the circuit breaker being inseries with normally closed contacts on the counting relay, whereby thestepping magnet advances the stepping switches toward home position andthe cit-normal switch when the common contact is in contact with thesecond contact of the double throw switch controls the stepping of thestepping switches one step to home position.

6. In a check operated vending machine having collumns of articles to bevended and having means to receive checks and .to connect a line withone side of a source of potential in response to the deposit of checksin the machine, a manually operated selector switch for verding anarticle stored in a selected column, contacts forming part of theselector switch closed when the switch is opera-ted and operative toconduct current therethrough from the line with potential thereon, avend relay having a coil responsive to an operation of a selector switchin circuit with the output from said selector switch and connected withthe opposite side of the source of potential, a relay holding circuitfor said vend relay, including contacts operated by said vend relay, amotor operative to vend an article controlled by encrgization of saidvend relay and closure of a pair of contacts thereof, limit switchesoperated by said motor to limit operation thereof in each of twoopposite directions, means under control of one of said limit switchesto reverse the motor and means under control of the second limit switchto break the holding circuit of the vend relay to thereby deenergize therelay and stop the motor.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 and including an additional pair ofnormally closed contacts on the selector switch in series with the pairof contacts of the vend relay.

8. In a check operated vending machine having columns of articles to bevended and having means to receive checks and .to connect a line withone side of a source of potential in response to the deposit of checksin the machine, a manually operated selector switch for vending anarticle stored in a selected column, contacts forming part of theselector switch closed when the switch is operated and operative toconduct current therethrough from the line with potential thereon, anempty switch to sense the presence of articles in a column, said emptyswitch being in series with said contacts of the selector switch, a vendrelay having a coil in series with the empty switch and with theopposite side of the source of potential, said coil being responsive toan operation of the selector switch when the columm is not empty, arelay holding circuit for said vend relay including contacts operated bysaid vend relay, a motor operative to vend an rticle controlled by saidvend relay, limit switches opcrated by said motor to limit operationthereof in each of two opposite directions, means under control of oneof said limit switches to reverse the motor and means under control ofthe second limit switch to break the holding circuit of the vend relay,to thereby deenergize the relay and stop the motor.

9. The structure defined in claim 7 and including an additional pair ofcontacts closed by said vend relay, a solenoid to assist in the vendingoperation in series with said contacts and in series with one pole of anAC. line,

the other pole of the A.C. line being connected to one of the additionalpair of normally closed contacts of the selector switch, with saidadditional pair of contacts on the selector switch in series with theadditional pair of contacts closed by said vend relay.

10. The structure defined in claim 8 and including an acceptance relaythe coil of which is initially energized by reason of potential comingfrom said line via the selector switch when operated and via the emptyswitch, and by way of additional normally open contacts on the selectorswitch, an escrow motor operative to deposit the received check into themachine under control of said acceptance relay, a self-locking circuitfor said acceptance relay including holding contacts operated by saidrelay, and a limit switch in series with said holding contacts to openthe contacts upon operation of the motor, deenergize the acceptancerelay, and stop the escrow motor.

11. The subject matter of claim 10 in which there is included an acceptrelay, connected to the other pole of the source of potential, thepotential coming from the said line and being applied to the coil ofsaid accept relay to hold it energized so long as the selector switch isoperated, and a circuit including contacts operated by said accept relayto energize the coil of the acceptance relay.

12. In a check operated vending machine having columns of articles to bevended and having means to receive checks and to connect a line with oneside of a source of potential in response to the deposit of a check inthe machine, a manually operated selector switch for vending an articlestored in a selected column, contacts forming part of the selectorswitch closed when the switch is operated and operative to conductcurrent therethrough from the line with potential thereon, an emptyswitch to sense the presence of articles in a column, said empty switchbeing in series with said contacts of the selector switch and havingcontacts which are closed when the column is empty, a return relay undercontrol of said empty switch and energized when the contacts of theselector switch and empty switch are closed, a returning relay whoseenergization is effected upon the energization of the return relay, anescrow motor operative to refund checks upon rotation of the motor inone direction and circuits closed by energization of said returningrelay for energizing the motor to cause it to run in said direction.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein the line is connected to the oneside of the source of potential via a stepping switch and wherein thestepping switch is advanced from a given position by acceptance ofchecks, and wherein the returning relay is energized through closure ofthe return relay, the return relay being in series with the empty switchand the opposite pole of the source of potential, a second circuitclosed by said return relay, a reset relay in said second circuit andmeans controlled by said reset relay to restore the stepping switch to astart position.

14. In a check operated vending machine having columns of articles to bevended and having means to receive checks and to connect a line with oneside of a source of potential in response to the deposit of a check inthe machine, a manually operated selector switch for vending an articlestored in a selected column, contacts forming part of the selectorswitch closed when the switch is operated and operative to conductcurrent therethrough from the line with potential thereon, an emptyswitch to sense the presence of articles in a column, said empty switchbeing in series with said contacts of the selector switch and havingcontacts which are closed when the column is empty, an empty relayhaving a coil in series with the empty switch, with the opposite pole ofthe source of potential connected thereto and energized upon the linewith potential thereon being connected to the selector switch, and theselector switch being depressed and the empty switch closed, an emptylight and a circuit therefor including contacts closed by energizationof the relay, and a holding circuit for the relay, said holding circuitincluding a thermo- 18 static switch opened, after an interval, by theheating thereof.

15. In a check controlled vending machine having columns of articles tobe vended, and having means to receive check-s, means operative onreceipt of a check to operate a pulsing switch, a stepping magnetoperated by pulses from said pulsing-switch, a stepping switch operatedby said stepping magnet to connect a line with one side of a source ofpotential, a plurality of manually operated selector switches, eachconnected to said line and controlling mechanism for vending an articlestored in a column of said machine, additional mechanism under controlof said selectorswitch to accept the check within the machine, and meansto refund a deposited check including a contact on said pulsing switch,which, when the pulsing switch is in normal unoperated position,connects potential to normally closed contacts on the selector switches,the normally closed contacts of all of said selector switches beingconnected in series, an operator-operated escrow switch and a resetrelay each having a contact in series with the normally closed contactsof the selector switches, a normally open cooperating contact on theescrow switch, which, when closed on the said contact there of controlsa circuit to eifect energization of the coil of the reset relay, anadditional pair of normally open contacts on said escrow switch, which,when closed, effects a refund of the deposited check and another contacton the reset relay which when closed upon the series connected contactof the reset relay and upon energization thereof is connected to thestepping magnet to effect energization thereof.

16. The structure defined in claim 15 and wherein there is included acounting relay energized in response to the receipt of a check by saidvending machine, said counting relay when energized closing a circuit inseries with the coil of the reset relay and in series with the firstmentioned pair of contacts on the escrow switch.

17. In a check controlled vending machine, means for etfecting thedelivery of an article from a column of articles under control of thedeposit of a check, said means including a pusher for stripping anarticle from the column, a motor and connections for causing the motorto operate the pusher, a vend relay energized under control of thecheck, contacts closed thereby to effect the drive of said motor in onedirection, a vend motor return relay, a limit switch having contactsclosed because of said drive of the motor, said limit switch havingcontacts biased to closed position and in series with normally opencontacts on said vend motor return relay, a second limit switch operatedbecause of said drive of the motor having normally closed contacts tomaintain the vend relay energized and opened upon continued drive of themotor, the deenergization of said relay efiecting a momentary stoppageof motor drive, and another contact means on the second limit switchclosed when the first pair of contacts on said limit switch is opened toenergize the vend motor return relay, the now closed contacts on thefirst limit switch holding the vend motor return relay energized throughits holding contacts, contacts on said vend motor return relay toreverse the motor allowing the normally closed pair of contacts on thesecond limit switch to close, the motor continuing in its reversemovement until it efiects opening of the contacts of the first limitswitch, a conveyor for receiving articles as they are removed from acolumn, a delivery relay and a holding circuit therefor, and additionalcontacts closed by energization of said vend motor return relay toenergize said delivery relay, and a second motor driving the conveyorenergized by closing of contacts of the delivery relay.

18. The structure of claim 17 including a thermostatic switch with anormally closed pair of contacts and a heater adjacent to the contacts,the delivery relay having a coil one end of which is directly connectedto one pole of a source of potential and the other end of which isconnected to a line leading to a normally open contact con-

1. A COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS COMPRISING CHUTES FOR RECEIVING COINS OFDIFFERNET MULTIPLE DENOMINATIONS, SWITCHES IN SAID CHUTES, A STEPPINGSWITCH AND STEPPING MAGNET TO OPERATE THE STEPPING SWITCH, A PULSINGSWITCH HAVING PLURAL CONTACTS CONNECTED TO THE STEPPING MAGNET AND ANARM TO SUCCESSIVELY CLOSE WITH THE CONTACTS, A MOTOR TO DRIVE THE ARM,DIRECT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SWITCH IN THE CHUTE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ACOIN OF THE LOWER DENOMINATION AND THE STEPPING MAGNET TO MOMENTARILYENERGIZE THE SAME TO MOVE THE STEPPING SWITCH ONE STEP, CONNECTIONSBETWEEN A SWITCH IN A CHUTE OF HIGHER DENOMINATION WITH THE ARM OF THEPULSING SWITCH AND WITH THE MOTOR TO SET THE MOTOR INTO OPERATION TOCAUSE THE PULSING SWITCH TO TRANSMIT A NUMBER OF PULSES TO THE STEPPINGMAGNET FOR EACH ROTATION OF THE ARM, AND COMNECTIONS TO THE MOTOR TOLIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE ARM TO ONE CYCLE FOR EACH COIN OF HIGHERDENOMINATION DEPOSITED IN THE MACHINE, THE CONNECTIONS TO THE MOTORINCLUDING NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACTS ON EACH OF THE COIN OPERATED SWITCHESAND OPENED WHEN A COIN IS ENGAGING THE SWITCH, WITH THE SAID CONTACTS ONEACH COIN OPERATED SWITCH IN SERIES WITH THE SAID CONTACTS ON ALL OF THESWITCHES AND IN SERIES WITH THE MOTOR.